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J. W. SMITH.

Gas Retort.

Patented June 21, 1859.

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i 'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IOHN W. SMITH, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, AND JESSE H. WHITEHURST, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND'.

GAS-RETORT.

Specicaton of Letters Patent No. 24,524, dated June 21, 1859.

To all 'whom it may concern:

| up through the pipes e and c into the con- Be it known that I, JOHN W. SMITH, of l densing chamber f and thence through the the city of Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Gras Apparatus; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure I is a longitudinal vertical section; Fig. II, an end View; Fig. III, a transverse section of the retort and its casing.

The letters of reference indicate the same parts in the different figures.

My invention relates to that class of apparatus in which oil or other fatty matter is introduced into a retort, placed in a stove or furnace for the purpose of generating illuminating gas for domestic use. Much loss of time, and material has heretofore been incurred in apparatus of this description by the condensation of volatile products in the pipes leadingfrom the retort to the receiver, which is obviatedby the improved arrangement which I proceed to describe as follows in connection with the other parts of the apparatus.

The retort a, supported in its casing Z), by the perforated flanges z', is placed horizontally in the furnace c, its ends projecting therefrom. The oil or other fatty matter enters the heated retort slowly in regulated quantities through the supply pipe d, and is there formed into gas which passes pipe g, into a receiver not shown in the drawing. Theoutlet cock 7c, serves to discharge any liquid material that may remain in the retort after cooling.

When rosin oil or other resinous or bituminous materials are used a large quantity of tarry matter passes from the retort in a volatile form especially when the rate of supply or heat of the retort is not properly regulated this condenses as it cools and forms serious obstructions in the pipes when arranged in the ordinary manner, but in my improved arrangement, a condensing chamber f is placed in an elevated position above the retort, and is surrounded by a reservoir of water it of any convenient form, the tarry matter is' here condensed and flows back by its gravity into the retort where it is again decomposed and returns toward the receiver in a gaseous form.

I do not claim the several parts of the apparatus separately considered but What I claim as my invention anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is- The within described arrangement of the pipes c and c when combined with the retort and condensing chamber in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

JOHN IV. SMITH.

Witnesses CHAs. EVERETT, W. CRossFULD. 

